AFTER much success with its U2 pocket WiFi model, Roamingman has come out with the G4 model, offering users not just pocket WiFi access but also features such as live language translator, maps navigation and trip advisor.
As a traveller and a regular user of Roamingman, I find these new features very useful, especially when travelling to new places where people hardly speak English.
The device can be used in 138 countries currently with more than 300 million users worldwide.
THE DEVICE
At a glance, the Roamingman G4 pocket WiFi looks like a small smartphone with a 5-inch HD screen. This is the main difference compared to the U2 model which has no screen.
The device is light, palm-sized and fits easily in your pants pocket, handbag or haversack. You won’t feel as if you’re carrying one due to its build and design.
Since the G4 model has a screen, it is able to offer value-added features such as those mentioned above. This new device can also double up as a powerbank for your mobile phone.
Using it is simple. You just need to charge the device via a USB cable, similar to how you charge your smartphone.
Once it is fully charged, turn it on, swipe the screen and you’ll see the four main features — WiFi, translator, map and trip advisor.
Just tap on the WiFi section and fill in your name and password. Once you have keyed in the SSID and password, you’re good to go.
Roamingman uses advanced Cloud SIM technology that auto-connects to the fastest network available in the country you’re visiting.
I’ve used it in a few countries like the US, Taiwan, Thailand, France and Japan, and find the service really good.
The G4 model has better battery power with up to 18 hours of usage due to its bigger battery.
This is sufficient and can last from morning until the end of the day. If you’re on the move, you’re unlikely to have to charge the G4 device mid-day.
Up to five devices can share its hotspot and if you’re travelling with friends or family, this would be an ideal way to use the Internet, instead of subscribing to individual data roaming packages which may cost more.
FEATURES
One of the features I enjoyed using most is the translation. It has up to 17 languages that can be translated both ways.
Among the languages available for live translation include English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, German, Arabic, French, Dutch, Italian and Swedish.
This feature is handy especially when you’re in a place where people don’t speak English, for example, at a market in the French countryside and you want to buy a loaf of bread.
If you want to ask “how much?”, press and hold the (English) icon at the bottom left of the phone and say the two words. The French translation, combien, will appear together with the pronunciation.
This will surely help when interacting with the locals. If they can’t speak English, just ask them to speak into the device and the English translation and pronunciation will come on. Isn’t that cool?
Besides that, you can also learn foreign languages and cultures too.
The map function, meanwhile, features Google Maps, which you can use for navigation, in-vehicle GPS, etc.
So you don’t have to use your phone as your GPS when driving in a foreign country. This will help save your phone battery.
If you’re looking for hotels, things to do, restaurants or car rental in the country you’re visiting, use the TripAdvisor feature, and you’ll get all the information you need.
SERVICE
The Roaming Man WiFi rental service starts from RM11.40 a day, depending on country and region. Device rental is available through the company’s respective channels in Malaysia and Singapore.